Nail-driving device



July 30, 1929. B, HA TY 1,722,330

NAIL DRI VING DEVICE Filed July 1'7, 1926 Patented July 30, 1929.

UNI ED STATES JOHN B. HASTY, SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA.

NAIL-DRIVING DEVICE.

Application fi led July 17, 1926. Serial No. 123,043.

This invention relates in general to a naildriving device, and more particularly to a pneumatic or fluid operated hammer of the hand operable type that is arranged for driving nails. An important object of the invention is to provide such a device that will be light, and that may be easily manipulated by an operator, for driving nails in any surface that is substantially horizontal or tilted at an angle, such as in the surface of a box, or a like nailing operation.

Another important object is to provide a device that will permit an operatorto feed nails thereto by merely droppin the nails through an opening and that wil lead the nails into position to be driven.

Another important object is to provide such a device that will guide the nails through a nailing operation, so that the nail will be driven substantially straight and may be driven at greater speed.

Another important object is to provide such a device that will permit of counter-sinking or driving the heads of the nails beneath the surface of the article in which they are driven.

-Another important object is to provide such a device that will be simple, substantial and durable, and that may be cheaply manufactured.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a device embodying my invention and in nail receiving position,

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the device substantially at the end of a nail driving operation,

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 1,

F ig. 4 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 1, with parts thereof broken away to illustrate the nail guiding and positioning action of the device, and

Fig. 5 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 2, with parts broken away and showing the relative position of the parts after a nailing operation:

To illustrate my invention, I have shown a fluid or pneumatic hammer 11, having a guiding and positioning means 12 suitably at-; tached thereto.

While any suitable fluid or pneumatic hammer may be used, I have shown such a hammer of the hand operable type, having a substantiallycylindrical body part 13 and a handle part 14. The handle part 14 may be of any suitable type or form that will permit of manipulating the hammer. The body part 13 is providedwith a bore 15 and a plunger 16, suitable valve mechanism for operating the plunger 16 and means for admitting air or other fluid into the body for o eration of the .plunger 16 and exhausting t e air or fluid therefrom may be provided in the usual manner.

A nail driving device or element 17 that may be of any suitable type or form is provided, and in the present instance I have shown this device having an enlarged, substantially cylindrical end 18, adapted to project into the bore 15 of the body part 13, an enlarged collar portion 19, adapted to limit the movement of the portion 18 into the bore 15, a bearing portion 21, and a substantially cylindrical nail driving portion 22. The nail driving device 17 may be made substantially as shown or of several parts suitably secured together and is secured to the hammer b means of a nut 23 that is arranged for threa ed engagement with a threaded part 24 of the hammer body 13. The nut 23 may be of any suitable shape, and in the present instance I haveshown thisnut substantially cup shaped and formed as at to embrace the bearing portion 21 of the nail driving device, and to limitthe forward movement of this device. A washer 44 of rubber or other suitable material may be positioned in the nut 23 substantially as shown to provide a cushion for the nail driving element 17. The driving end of the driving portion 22 of the element 17 is preferably of smaller cross sectional area than the top surface of the nails to be driven so that the heads of the nails may be countersunk or driven beyond the top surface of the box or article in which the nail is driven. I

The nail guiding and positioning means 12 may be formed in any suitable manner, and in the present instance I have shown this device formed of a substantially tubular part 26, the internal diameter of which is sli htly larger than the external diameter of the hammer body part 13, an annular part 27 and a nail positioning part 28. The part 26 is preferably provided with a pair of oppositelv disposed slots 29 extending in the plane of the axis thereof and of suitable length to permit of a maximum movement of the part 26 along the body 13, that is, from the position shownin Figures 1 and 4 to the posltlon shown in Figures 2 and 5. A suitable pro ection is or may be provided extending from the part 26 and apertured as at 32. The end 33 of the aperture 32 is preferably tapered to provide an enlarged opening for receiving nails. The annular part 27 may be of any suitable size, and is internally threaded for engagement with a threaded end 34 of part 26. The nail positioning part 28 may be of any suitable form, and in the present instance I have shown this device having an enlarged end portion 35 arranged for threaded engagement with a threaded end 36 ofthe part 26 and a reduced end portion 37 which is provided with a bore 38 of slightly larger diameter than the maximum size of nail head on the nails to be used. A portion 39 of the part 28 is preferably cut away to provide a tapered guideway 41 betweenthe bore 38 and the threads of portion 35.

The hammer, including the body part 13, the handle 14, piston 16, valve parts and fluid supply connections ma all be assembled before or after the assem ly of the nail guiding and positioning parts and may be disassembled without disturbing them. The positioning part 28 is threaded on to the part 26, the nail driving element 17 is assembled to the hammer, the annular part is positioned over body 13 of the hammer, the nut 23 is then threaded on to the threaded end 24 of the hammer over the nail driving element 17. The tubular part 26 is then positioned over the body with a pair of laterally extending lugs 42, that may be formed on the nut 23 or suitably attached thereto or to the body 13 in any suitable manner, positioned in the slots 29, and the annular part 27 is then threaded on to the threaded end 34 of the part 26. The periphery of the part 27 is or may be provided with pockets 43 to facilitate the use of a spanner wrench in securing the parts 26 and 27 together.

'l/Vhen an operator holds the hammer by the handle in a suspended position, and free of any other support, the nail guiding and positioning means 12 is moved under the action of gravity to the posit-ion shown in Figures 1 and 4, when a nail may be dropped through the opening 32. The nail will fall down through the tubular body 26 and be guided into the bore 38 by the surface 41, Where it is ready for a driving operation, the bore 38 being slightly longer than the maximum length of nails to be driven. When the nail is in position in the bore and points downward upon a surface 43, as shown, the operator turns on the hammer and merely presses down upon the nail, following it downwardly until the nail is driven to the de th desired.

The depth to which the nail may e driven is not limited by the nail driving attachment because of the relative sizes of the driving element 17 and the nail head, and for this reason the nail heads may be set in the wood or countersunk to any desirable extent.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it tioned in the end of the cylindrical part of 7 said body, means for securing said nail drivmg element in operative position, and means slidably positioned over the cylindrical body and secured thereto by said last mentioned means for holding nails in alignment with said nail driving element during nail driving operation of said hammer.

2. A nail driving device, comprising a pneumatic hammer having a substantially cylindrical end and a driving plunger there- 1n, a nail driving element operably positioned in an end of the cylindrical part of said body, means engaging the end of said body for securing said nail driving element in operative position, and means slidable on said body and secured thereto by said last mentioned means for holding nails in alignment with said nail driving element during nail driving operation of said hammer, said means being slidable along said body from a pail receiving position to a nail driving posi- 1on. l 3. A nail driving attachment for pneumatic hammers and the like, comprising a tubular part adapted for embracing a part of a pneumatic hammer and to slide on said part, said tubular part having a slot therein providing a way for a projection on a hammer part and a nail receiving opening therein, a lock ring adapted for threaded engagement with said tubular part and for securing said part to the hammer, and means having thread ed engagement with said tubular part for guldmg nails during a driving operation.

JOHN B. "HASTY. 

